I wake up really early in the morning so I can transfer the rest of my CF cards to the backup drive because I was too tired to finish it the night before. Sunrise is about 7:30am so I don't have a lot of time to waste.
The backup drive is still plugged in from the night before and when I try to access it....it's not registering on the computer. The computer see's that a drive is there but won't display how much space is available, how much is used and won't show me any of the files.
Usually I would have a second redundant drive on any trip. The one time I don't...and this happens! I needed access to a large number of my 2010 original RAW files during my time in Florida, so they were on one backup drive and I was saving all new photos to the other.
More than two weeks of my trip was on the failed drive.
The drive is now in the hands of skilled people in the hopes of recovering the lost files. I have my fingers crossed :-)
It was my own fault and I should have known better. Considering how cheap it is to buy external drives it's a crazy mistake to make.
Never do something once thinking the worst can't happen. It can and will.
Apr 8, 2011
Incident #4
Apr 7, 2011
Apr 6, 2011
Keep Your Eyes On Your Gear
So after I go through that small issue of the missing WH-200, I figured the rest of the trip would be smooth and problem free.
Everything is going great and I'm having a fantastic time. It's March 26th and I'm in Merritt Island getting some great opportunities on Black Point Wildlife Drive. I'm stopped at a lagoon with a large number of different species within good shooting range and I hear someone pull up in a car and say my name. It's a friend that I was shooting with at Amherst Island in January and a complete shock as I had no idea he was going to be there.
We shoot for a little bit, then we move behind my vehicle while we're catching up and he's sharing some great tips on productive locations. He isn't able to stay for the day so we say our goodbye's and we both leave the area.
I'm halfway through the drive when I hear an Eastern Meadowlark and he looks beautiful singing in the field. So, I take out my camera with the 500mm attached and then reach for my tripod with the new WH-200.
Not there.
My heart stops and I realize that I remember putting the camera/lens back in the car but I must have left the tripod standing there.....right in the road.
Black Point Wildlife Drive is a 7 mile, one-way drive so simply turning around and going back isn't an option. Cursing myself the whole way and feeling sick, I have to finish the drive and then head back to the entrance to see if by some miracle my Gitzo and Wimberley Head are still there. When I pulled around the bend in the road, there it was. Standing right on the road where I carelessly left it.
Even worse is that later that day in Titusville after stopping to shoot an Osprey on the way back to my hotel....I once again started to drive off with it sitting in a local park.
Maybe I need a pre-departure checklist :)
Apr 3, 2011
Hunting Heron
Tricolored Heron
Merritt Island NWR, Florida
Nature's Photo Adventures - March 2011
I just got back from a three week trip to Florida. Longer than usual because of the workshop and then personal shooting (but still not long enough!)
And I returned home to SNOW! Ok, it's not a lot of snow, but it's still hard to take considering that yesterday I was sitting on a beach enjoying the numerous photo opportunities and surrounded by wildlife.
So many things happened on this trip...but even with all the problems, it was one of my best trips to Florida so far.
When I arrived, I immediately went through my suitcase to retrieve my tripod, chargers and other photography gear that I was unable to fit in my carry-on.
Right away I notice a card. You know...the one that basically says we've opened your bag to screen it as part of the new security measures blah blah blah.
Not that I have a problem with increased security. I actually appreciate knowing that I'm as safe as possible.
However, I realize instantly why they flagged my bag for closer scrutiny. I had packed my tripod, ballhead, sidekick and WH-200 in that bag because I was already up to almost 50 pounds in my carry-on.
Everything was there except my new WH-200. Used twice and now that I'm really excited to use it....it's gone!
So the airlines etc were contacted right away and a claim process is underway.
I have to say that Wimberley is a fantastic company to deal with and I wouldn't hesitate to do business with them time and time again.
When they were contacted to purchase a new WH-200, they were incredibly fast and had another one in my hands within 24 hours at a greatly reduced cost.
I should have realized that such an immediate problem was a sign of things to come. Bad things happen in three's right? Or in my case I'd be lucky if it was only 3 :)
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